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No. 3 Boise State gets Fiesta on New Year’s Eve in first CFP trip

AP photo by David Zalubowski / Boise State defensive end Jayden Virgin-Morgan (5) prepares to help lead the Broncos onto the field before a Nov. 23 game against host Wyoming in Laramie.
AP photo by David Zalubowski / Boise State defensive end Jayden Virgin-Morgan (5) prepares to help lead the Broncos onto the field before a Nov. 23 game against host Wyoming in Laramie. AP photo by David Zalubowski / Boise State defensive end Jayden Virgin-Morgan (5) prepares to help lead the Broncos onto the field before a Nov. 23 game against host Wyoming in Laramie.

By JOHN MARSHALL / The Associated Press 4 min read

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — SMU had an anxious morning awaiting word from the College Football Playoff selection committee.

The Mustangs believed they had a strong enough resumé, highlighted by two wins over ranked teams, to get into the 12-team field. Even so, a loss to Clemson in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game Saturday night was enough to spur trepidation and worries that the committee could go with Alabama instead.

The wait over, these ponies will ride on in one of the best seasons in school history.

SMU earned the CFP’s last at-large selection Sunday and will open the CFP at Penn State on Saturday, Dec. 21, with the winner moving on to face No. 3 seed Boise State and electric running back Ashton Jeanty in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Eve in Glendale.

The Broncos (12-1) won the Mountain West Conference championship Friday night and two days later received a first-round bye as one of the four highest-ranked league champions.